Oakridge rezoning would allow for more homes

York County will consider rezoning 20 acres near Oakridge Middle School to allow for more homes.

Evergreen Land Partners of Charlotte submitted the application for 5760 Highway 557. The property is just west of the school and fire station on the opposite side of Oakridge Road, bordering the Oakridge community on Regal Road.

The current rural development district and proposed residential conservation district zonings allow for many of the same uses. The proposed change would allow for higher-density building. It also allows for patio homes.

A single-family home development with the current zoning would be limited to one home per acre and require a 50-foot buffer.

Premium content for only $0.99

A single-family development with the new zoning, if on public water or sewer, could have two homes per acre.

If on public water and sewer, lot requirements allow four homes per acre. A planning commission decision could further reduce minimum lot requirements by 30 percent for an approved single-family development.

A patio-home development could have 10 homes per acre.

The new zoning also would allow for small commercial use, or small parks and similar amenities for a residential subdivision.

The proposed zoning is designed to promote “like development” nearby. Houses in the Oakridge community, a mix of small brick, stick-built, modular and mobile homes, predate the middle school and new fire station nearby. A new elementary school will be built near the fire station on Oakridge Road; land is being cleared for construction.

Jackie Turner, a resident of the Oakridge community since 1980, said she is hopeful new development will add to the community feel.

“We kind of look out for each other, our neighbors,” Turner said.

Anne Kennedy, who grew up in River Hills and now lives in Oakridge, is concerned about growing traffic with the fire station and school coming, and other possible development. “They need a traffic light out here,” Kennedy said.

Turner and Kennedy agree traffic improvements would be a way for a developer to ingratiate a new project with existing residents.

“It’s kind of hectic getting out of here sometimes,” Turner said.

The zoning request doesn’t specify how or when the land might be developed. Efforts to obtain comment from Evergreen Land Partners were unsuccessful by press time Friday.

The York County Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing about the request at its Nov. 3 meeting.